14 Time-Killing Gifts for Those Who Are Sick of Staying Home

Local retailers have you covered when it comes to puzzles, books, games, and more
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Being stuck at home doesn’t have to be boring. Help your loved one pass the time inside and lift their spirits with books, puzzles, games, and other activities from local retailers.

staying home - gifts
Art Legends Alphabet Book, $25, at DIA Shop, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7948; diashop.org

Art smart: From Andy Warhol to Pablo Picasso, this illustrated ABC book will educate your budding artist on some of the world’s legendary painters, photographers, and more.

staying home - gifts
Radical Self-Care for Black Women, $10, at Flower Press; flowerflowerpress.press

A safe space: Katelyn Rivas, a Detroit-based poet, community activist, and founder of The Free Black Women’s Library Detroit chapter, vulnerably examines womanhood, Blackness, and the coexistence of healing and suffering in this poetry zine.

staying home - gifts
Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins Game, $25, at Green Brain Comics, 13936 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-9444; greenbraincomics.com

A duel for all ages: In this cooperative fantasy board game, choose your character and work together to battle monsters, take on the role of the Dungeon Master, and ultimately defeat the boss monster that’s terrorizing the lands of Neverwinter.

staying home - gifts
FarmSteady Soft Pretzel Making Mix, $25, at Nest, 460 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 313-831-9776; nestdetroit.com

Let’s get this bread: Enjoy the best bar snack while staying home with this pretzel making kit. It comes with enough ingredients to make a dozen pretzels.

staying home - gifts
Argaman & Defiance Tie-Dye Mask Kit, $28, at Post by Mutual Adoration, 14500 Kercheval Ave., Detroit; 313-939-2172; mutualadoration.com

Mask up: Stay safe and stylish with your new tie-dye mask. The DIY kit comes with four reusable and eco-friendly masks, dye, and written and video instructions.

staying home - gifts
Dinosaur Bingo, $20, and Bowie Bingo: Icon. Rock God. Alien. Bingo!, $30, at The Book Beat, 26010 Greenfield Road, Oak Park; 248-968-1190; bookshop.org/shop/bookbeat

Bingo, reimagined: Gather up your household to find a new appreciation for the species during a game of Dinosaur Bingo. Or bring together all the true fans of the late musical icon for a round (or two … or three …) of Bowie Bingo.

staying home - gifts
Houseplants for All, $18, at Flower Press; flowerflowerpress.press

A plant with a plan: This simple do’s and don’ts guide to houseplants is a must-read for plant newbies, pros, and everyone in between.

staying home - gifts
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, $32, at The Book Beat, 26010 Greenfield Road, Oak Park; 248-968-1190; thebookbeat.com

A much-needed rethink: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson examines America’s unspoken caste system, its influence on people’s everyday lives and behaviors, and how the caste system’s hierarchy of human division defines Americans’ lives. This book is featured in Oprah’s Book Club list and is a bestseller at the Oak Park indie bookstore.

staying home - gifts
Modern Lunch (left), $25, at Urbanum, 6545 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-771-4777; urbanumdetroit.com

Lunch time: Cookbook author and award-winning food blogger Allison Day curated a cookbook of more than 100 original, plant-forward recipes that are easy for anyone to make and enjoy midday.

staying home - gifts
Paper Girls, $35, at Green Brain Comics, 13936 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-9444; greenbraincomics.com

It could be worse: Think 2020 has been bad?  A deluxe hardcover copy of the first book in the classic mystery/sci-fi graphic novel series Paper Girls is just the thing to put pandemic life into perspective.

staying home - gifts
Cavalinni Vintage Puzzles, $19 each, at Nest, 460 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-831-9776; citybirddetroit.com

Fall into pieces: Know someone with a frazzled brain and idle hands? Wrap up a few of these Cavalinni Vintage Puzzles from Nest. Choose from images of wildflowers, the skeletal system, constellations, butterflies, and more. Each 1,000-piece puzzle comes in a drawstring muslin pouch.

staying home - gifts
Mind the Gap: A trivia game for the generations, $30, at DIA Shop, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7948; diashop.org

Fun for all ages:  This pop culture trivia game spans four generations: the Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. The whole family will be put to the test about TV shows, movies, music, newsworthy events, and more.

staying home - gifts
Power Deck, $35, at Flower Press; flowerflowerpress.press

Deal with it: Whether they’re in need of a good laugh, a sense of direction, or a quick pick-me-up, the Power Deck by artist Van Waring has 56 inspirational cards that should do the trick.

staying home - gifts
Silver Surfer: Black #1 Graphic Novel, $16, at Vault of Midnight, 1226 Library St. Detroit; 313-481-2165; 219 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-998-1413; vaultofmidnight.com

Out of this world: For the Marvel fan in your life, gift them the first installment of the Silver Surfer series. Spinning out of Guardians of the Galaxy #1 in which the galaxy’s defenders were thrown through a black hole (including the Silver Surfer), the Silver Surfer must now save his own soul in order to fight back the oblivion.